Montreal's Westmount synagogue hit by suspected pellet gun fire; no injuries as police hate-crimes unit investigates

Montreal police have opened an investigation after Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Westmount was targeted overnight Thursday into Friday, October 29-30. Police spokesperson Manuel Couture said several rear windows were pierced with small, round holes but not shattered, and the pellets did not penetrate the building. The damage was discovered at about 11 a.m. Friday when the synagogue's executive director arrived for a meeting; police said no one was believed to have been inside at the time and no one was injured.

Third targeting in under two years; motive not established

Because the target was a place of worship, the investigation has been assigned to the hate-crimes unit, but police have not identified a suspect or confirmed whether the act was motivated by antisemitism. Rabbi Lisa Grushcow said nothing penetrated the building and no one was hurt. It is the third reported targeting of the synagogue in less than two years: it was previously defaced with a swastika, and on June 5, 2026, a man attempted to set it on fire; a 38-year-old was arrested and charged with arson and related offences.

Community condemnation and video review

Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs issued a joint statement on October 30 condemning the incident. Police said security footage is being reviewed and no arrests have been announced. Montreal Jewish News, citing CityNews police figures, reported 322 suspected hate-motivated incidents targeting Jewish people or property recorded between October 7, 2023, and May 31, 2026, a figure that does not include this latest incident.